Job Discussion Forums

[JeremyDay]

I just had my application for a Z visa rejected. The woman at the window said that it was because the invitation letter was not registered. I asked her a few times what that meant until she finally relented and told me that she "didn't know"... but my "school would know."

SEE THE UPDATE BELOW. PROBABLY A NEW REQURIEMENT. UNCONFIRMED.

I would love to know if anyone had a similar problem and their school found the solution.

[doogsville]

I really think you ought to be asking the school about this rather than us. Even if someone here has had a similar experience, I would think that it's the school that needs to do something to register the invitation letter. It sounds like something has gone wrong at the local PSB, in which case someone at the school has to fix it. Have you contacted them?

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

Why didn't you use a visa service to do the dirty work?It would have saved you time and money. If something was amiss, the service would have caught it.

Try Travel Document Services,

I I feel your frustration over being told that your letter of invitation wasn't registered and the consulate worker doesn't know what it means. I've experienced similar BS. (Not over an unregistered letter but over other visa requirements)

Unless there's a special chop, I am not quite sure how you would check to see if it is registered. Call Travel Document Services in Houston to find out. You may be asked to fax a copy for inspection and find out that there's no problem At this point, turn the situation over to them. They have a LOT of experience with this sort of thing and can handle the most intractable Chinese clerk. They know a LOT more than the consulates do in many cases because it is their job to be on top of everything.

You don't have time to fool with this BS. Call Travel Document Systems and get things straightened out.

Good luck.

[JeremyDay]

My school says the paperwork is perfect. They went and double checked and still say it is perfect. Looking at the paperwork and comparing it to all examples with visa service companies, etc. it seems perfect.

I've been calling different visa application companies. One company said they have had a rash of rejections in the last week due to a new requirement of "registering the letter" with the foreign affairs bureau. I can't find that particular arm of the Chinese government. I did find the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The issue is... it must be fixed on my school's side (or in China), but the consulates (at least my consulate) is ahead of the China side in implementation of a new regulation.

I could go through a visa company, but at this point I would be throwing away good money after bad until the problem is fixed on the other side.

However, I have no doubt that my school until I open their eyes will continue to confusedly say... everything is good. I'm not saying anything bad about them... I am just saying that this is the way of the world in China and the U.S.A.

So, back to the question... has anyone else had this experience or have a confirmation in regards to the name of the organization that the invitation letter must be registered.

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

Jeremy,

Don't give or be discouraged if you really want to teach in China. This is pretty normal. People aren't informed of decisions that affect others. Many times, the people that you deal with have NO Idea who even made the decision, much less why. Worse, they can't tell you who to go to in order to straighten things out.

You're not in China yet, but Welcome to China!

[Non Sequitur]

School or letter?
We know that not all schools are 'authorised' to issue offer letters.

[JeremyDay]

That's a good question.

I swear that the front window employee said the invitation letter needed to be registered. I turned in my paperwork to her, and I picked up my paperwork from her.

When I turned in my paperwork, she kept saying, "you don't have this, you can't turn it in." Of course, I'd respond with here it is. She did that 5 times (I guess trying to send me away).

I got the paperwork back from her and she kept repeating that the school needed to register the invitation letter. She finally admitted that she didn't know what that meant... but that my school would know.

The handwritten note in Chinese is on the back of the copy of the invitation letter. Linked below.

Also, were government agencies closed on the 9th? It was a festival. Here is a link to the handwritten note in Chinese. If someone can enlighten me, I'd appreciate it.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5YOwXQbGseISmtROThGZUxhTHM/view?usp=sharing

[Non Sequitur]

Here's a good link to have around for China orientation:
http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/?country=41

There is a 'Double Seven' festival that may be observed by Consulate - given time zones.
I have a copy up on my apartment wall and when I see some 'red days' looming, I expect changes to class timetable. The infamous 'make up' days being the most significant.

[JeremyDay]

Does anyone read Chinese? Still hoping for a translation of the linked photo.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5YOwXQbGseISmtROThGZUxhTHM/view?usp=sharing

[JeremyDay]

Interesting. I found someone to translate the note. It said:

Rejected, your invitation confirmation letter not found.

I turned in a hardcopy of the letter with my application. Thus it must not be on file somewhere or someplace. I turned in an invitation letter, confirmation letter of invitation, a name list of the invited, and a working permit...

Still trying to get to the bottom of it... who knows.

[happeningthang]

Sorry to hear about your roadblock OP - there always seems to be something thrown up - but they're always temporary setbacks and not much more.

I am curious to know some details - I've had a number of teachers come through the process recently from different parts of the world and - and none have come across this... yet.

What consulate are you applying to and what Chinese province is your school located in?

From what I know of the process it seems the school needs to go back to their regional Education Department Office and add this 'registration'.

Be interested to know how this ends up.

[JeremyDay]

Thank you for the input. I'll happily zip off an email to them and see if this is something that will help them.

I'm applying through the Houston consulate in the U.S.A.

The school is in Tianjin. Further, I should add that it is a language institute. Sounds like your step might be geared towards a high school or other public school.

The last email that I received the from the school said that the Foreign Affairs Bureau said to them that the invitation confirmation letter had been uploaded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

They are talking about providing some alternate evidence that it is actually on file...

I'll pass along your advice about the regional Education Department Office and adding the registration...

I wouldn't doubt this couldn't be a system glitch... I don't know. They apparently have a number of FT already working in the area and have done this many times. They seem as baffled as we are.

The new regulation or law may be just be an invention to explain something that doesn't make sense... I don't know. I'll certainly finish the story.

Thanks again for the advice.

[theoriginalprankster]

Had to go for an 'interview' to get my visa last year - the official (nice chap) asked me what work I was going to do.

I told him I would be a Learning Solutions Manager.

One question. One answer.

Got the visa the next day.

[LarssonCrew]

I'd be a little worried that you might be considered too much hard work, they might not know what to do next/how to do the next thing, so we will see. I'd be worried that you may just be told there is nothing to do, in which case you could be in a sticky situation because if you're on the system and considered not to have taken the visa, you may just find you can't get the letter from another place.

[theoriginalprankster]

Had to go for an 'interview' to get my visa last year - the official (nice chap) asked me what work I was going to do.

I told him I would be a Learning Solutions Manager.

One question. One answer.

Got the visa the next day.